Sweden head coach Peter Gerhardsson admits he could must conjure an additional particular recreation plan after establishing a Euro 2022 semi-final showdown with hosts England.
The match’s highest ranked group will tackle the Lionesses on Tuesday night at Bramall Lane having been reliant on a last-gasp winner for Friday’s unconvincing 1-0 victory over Belgium.
“We’re going to have a plan,” Gerhardsson mentioned of taking up Sarina Wiegman’s facet in Sheffield. “I don’t know proper now what we’re going to make up.
“However I can guarantee that we’re going to have a plan – and we’d like a great plan, we’d like an excellent plan, and possibly we’d like an especially, superb plan. It’s a very good group. It’s going to be an attention-grabbing problem.”
The quarter-finals conclude on Saturday night with defending champions the Netherlands going through France for the fitting to tackle Germany.
Sweden made to sweat
Magdalena Eriksson, left, celebrates with team-mates at full-time, together with match-winner Linda Sembrant, second proper (Tim Goode/PA)
(PA Wire)
Sweden had been solely spared a tense extra-time interval in opposition to the persistent Belgians after defender Linda Sembrant struck two minutes into added time at Leigh Sports activities Village.
The 1984 European champions, who had a first-half Stina Blackstenius objective dominated out for offside following a VAR overview, dominated proceedings however squandered a number of probabilities earlier than releasing a combination of aid and jubilation at full-time.
Sweden’s Magdalena Eriksson conceded a nervy night had been a extreme psychological problem and revealed she was near tears following the decisive objective.
The Chelsea defender – one in every of eight WSL gamers in Gerhardsson’s squad – is aware of her facet should swiftly recuperate bodily, having been given two days fewer than England to organize for subsequent week’s crunch conflict.
“I do know all of the gamers they’ve, they’re extraordinarily proficient gamers, so we’re going to need to be actually on it,” she mentioned. “Now it’s about recovering, getting recent once more after which taking them on.
“It’s going to be an especially robust recreation for us. England have been superb up to now within the match.”
Lionesses raring to roar
England head into the last-four buoyed by a surprising 2-1 comeback win over Spain secured by an excellent Georgia Stanway strike and hoping to encourage one other raucous residence crowd.
Midfielder Keira Walsh revealed she can not wait to as soon as once more belt out a hair-raising rendition of the nationwide anthem.
The 25-year-old feels singing ‘God Save The Queen’ finest encapsulates the rising pleasure in regards to the Lionesses’ probabilities of lifting their first main trophy.
“You possibly can hear it echoing across the stadium and it’s such a particular feeling and one we’ve not skilled earlier than as a result of we’ve not had a house match,” mentioned Manchester Metropolis participant Walsh.
“It does offer you that little little bit of an additional push.”
Dutch star Gunner be prepared?
Consideration reverts again to Rotherham on Saturday night, with the potential return of Vivianne Miedema a serious speaking level forward of mouth-watering encounter between the Dutch and the French at New York Stadium.
Prolific Netherlands striker Miedema missed her nation’s ultimate two group video games attributable to Covid-19 however might be again to spearhead their assault having resumed coaching.
Head coach Mark Parsons on Friday provided an upbeat replace concerning the Arsenal star.
“I’m spreading as a lot constructive vitality and optimism as potential, however we have now to see,” he mentioned. “There’s a likelihood she might be accessible as a result of issues are going properly, however we have to tick these previous couple of packing containers.”
‘Underdogs’ France bidding to make historical past
France head coach Corinne Diacre, centre, is getting ready to tackle the Netherlands in Rotherham (Nick Potts/PA)
(PA Wire)
France have reached the quarter-final stage for the fourth successive Euros however they’ve by no means been additional.
Les Bleues defeated the Dutch 3-1 in a pleasant in February however head coach Corinne Diacre insists her group are underdogs as she bids to mastermind a small piece of historical past.
“The Netherlands are the holders and, if both of us are favourites, it needs to be them,” she mentioned. “As everybody retains telling us: we’ve by no means been previous the quarter-finals so we will hardly be favourites.”
Stat of the day
Quote of the day
She is a world-class participant with the flexibility to carry the ball in addition to take out a whole group. It’s regular for a coach to wish to maintain that (her availability) secret.
France captain Wendie Renard on Vivianne Miedema
Submit of the day
Up subsequent
July 23
Quarter-final: France v Netherlands (8pm, New York Stadium, Rotherham)
Kaynak: briturkish.com
